Clarington to review employee costs

Clarington town hall in brief

Clarington town hall

CLARINGTON -- Council has asked Clarington CAO Franklin Wu to do a municipal employee organizational review and report back on any possible cost savings he finds.

The review was sparked by the growing number of Clarington employees on the provincial “sunshine list”, but the report will look at all staff, not only those who earn over $100,000 a year.

Mr. Wu will be looking at all possible cost savings, including layoffs, attrition and combining roles in the review. It’s expected to take three to six months to complete.

The report will go back to council and any changes will have to be decided on and approved by Clarington council.

Trees for Rural Roads program now accepting applications for 2014

In the ongoing effort to restore trees along roadsides, Clarington is partnering with the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Maple Leaves Forever to offer the Trees for Rural Roads program again in 2014.

Free native trees are being offered to Clarington’s rural residents to be planted along municipal roads on private land. Available species are: sugar, red, and silver maples, red and white oak, white pine, white spruce and white birch.

Applications are due March 31 with pickup taking place in April. The program is subject to budget approval in early 2014. To participate complete an application form, found online at clarington.net, and return it to the Clarington planning department or one of the local conservation authorities.

Clarington nominates mayor for Veridian vacancy

Clarington council has nominated Mayor Adrian Foster to the Veridian Connections board, to fill a vacancy created by Regional Councillor Mary Novak’s resignation.

Coun. Novak resigned from the Veridian Connections board after Clarington approved a policy on how to replace Veridian board members who resign mid-term.

Coun. Novak’s appointment was mired in controversy when instead of finishing a previous Veridian term in January 2013, Coun. Novak was reappointed to the board, which pays members a stipend. The vacancy arose when resident Erin O’Toole was elected MP in a riding byelection, and had to give up his spot.

Clarington has had an informal policy of having two council members and two residents on the board. When Mr. O’Toole resigned, two council members were already on the board -- Mayor Foster and Councillor Joe Neal. But rather than filling Mr. O’Toole’s vacant seat with a resident appointment, the Veridian board of directors named Coun. Novak back to the table.

Newcastle wants to host the 2016 Newcastles of the World summit.

Delegates from around the world could flock to Newcastle for the 2016 Newcastles of the World summit. There are more than 100 different Newcastles or New Castles around the globe. The idea to bring them together started in 1996 as a website and book, and then became a summit in 1998. The conference is held every two years and has been held in Japan, Switzerland, U.S.A., South Africa, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Clarington first participated in the 2012 Newcastles summit at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. The municipality was lined up to host the 2014 summit but the committee decided to attended at least one more summit before hosting and that more time was needed to organize the event. The 2014 Newcastles of the World summit will instead by held in the Czech Republic.

The Clarington volunteers working to attract the 2016 Newcastles of the World summit can begin fundraising efforts to help sponsor the event.

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(2) Comment

the Veridian board of directors named Coun. Novak back to the table.UPON THE RECOMMENDATION of toole. Author of this article MISSED reporting the board accepted the recommendation made by toole, even though it circumvented the policy Clarington had in place for decades.